Leeds United seen eyeing up swoop for 20-year-old Benfica forward

View of Elland Road before the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Cardiff City at Elland Road, Leeds, England on 3 February 2018. Picture by Paul Thompson.

According to Twitter account Scouts in Attendance (below), an account that tracks and publishes when scouts are attending matches, Leeds United have been busy in Portugal at the weekend.

#lufc scout at Porto v Braga on Sat had watched 20yo Benfica FW Chris Willock in B team defeat to Penafiel earlier that day… Leeds tried to sign him before he went to Portugal pic.twitter.com/8GvFaEUdrL

London-born Chris Willock, started out his football career at Arsenal, where his younger brother Joe still features. However, frustrated at chances to make a meaningful breakthrough at the Emirates, Willock decided to turn down a deal at the Gunners and shoot across to Portugal with big guns Benfica.

Leeds were in the hunt for the youngster last season, with The Mirror’s transfer blog saying that the Whites were looking to bring him in on a half-season loan deal.

That temporary move didn’t materialise, and youngster Willock went on to make 30 appearances (three goals/two assists) for Benfica B in the Ledman Liga Pro in his first season in Portuguese football.

This season he has kicked on from the solid foundations of where he left off last term. He’s featured nine times for Benfica B this time out, scoring twice and adding two more assists.

With Leeds United’s new manager preferring a run out of youth, a look at Chris Willock isn’t that incredible. Willock is a 43-cap/six-goal England international across all age groups from under-16 to Under-20 level and was a regular for Arsenal’s Under-23 side (40 games/nine goals/nine assists) before leaving for Benfica.

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Cynicism turned to optimism but without the woop woops and ringing bells. Leeds United supporter through thick and thin, more thin than anything recently. Write mainly about the Whites but turn my hand to other clubs. Lover of salted crisp sandwiches. Not a hipster.